Method and apparatus for making fibrous containers



J. E. ANNEN I 6 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FIBROUS CONTAINERS 1 Filed July 7. 1926 3 ShQetS+Sheet 1 v VENTOR J M b\ ya April 17, 1928. 1,666,767

J. E. ANNEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FIBROUS CONTAINERS Filed July 17, 1926 1 I 2. 12

3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

I22 I i 23 in as 10- J April 17, 1926. 6 I 1,666,767

J. E. ANNEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FIBROUS CONTAINERS I Filed July 17. 1926 s Sheets-Shet 3" 'PF I m ll- 723 W III I 9 "II 7 22 g 8- 26 T qm J0 Qgy v H A h" 5W H" W 6! I H n I g 42a 1* f i 10* [ll f INVENTOR Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

um rso sT 'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. ANNEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL PAPER CAN COIPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

arn'rnon AND APPARATUS ron MAKING mesons CONTAINERS.

. Application filed July 17, 1926. Serial No. 123,049.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making fibrous containers, and particularly to containers formed by uniting two or more container parts, as, for example, a body portion and a cap therefor, by rolling the edge portions of the container parts together.

Heretofore the rolling or curlin operation has been carried out by suita ly supporting the container parts and sub ecting them to the action of a so-called curling ring, which is a plunger having a working face grooved in such manner that the edge po'Ftions of the container parts are. caused to curl when engaged by such plunger. This method has been in use for some time, and while it is effective for curling the two parts, it is slow, and some times the roll produced by it is not as close andtight as it should be. In order to eliminate the possibility of loose joints and to materially increase the speed of the operation, I provide for positively guidin the edge portions of the container parts uring a major portion .of the curling operation. Preferably, this is done by placing a guide in such sition that the edge portions being joine are accurately uided in contact with a smooth metal surace after leaving the direct contact with the curling ring.

It is desirable to continue the guide so far around that the edges are directed completely into the joint, but this makes it difficult to remove the guide from the finished container because of joint itself. I therefore provide a segmental guide, the various portions of WlllCh may be moved out of contact with the completed joint. In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the present-preferred embodiment of my invention,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken awa of a closure mechanism, embodying the invention;

'Fi ure 2 isa vertical section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a diflerent form of mechanism for' interference of the Figure 6 is a similar view showin segment used in the guide illastrat ures 3 and 4; and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a pressure ring used to control the segments.

In the manufacture of an ordinar paper can, there is usually rovided a cyllndrical body portion and a anged cap adapted to fit into the end thereof. The flange ro'ects outwardly and lies close to the wall 02 the cylindrical body so that there are two thicknesses of paper appearing at the end of the can at this stage of the operation. It has heretofore been customary to unite the container body and the cap by holding the parts in proper relation with one another and then a guide in Figpresslng an annular plunger 0r curling ring against the upstanding edge portions, so asto roll them inwardly and form a joint. However, as above stated, this joint has frequently beenfound to be looser than is de edge portion 6 lying alongside this flangez' Initially, the flange 5 and the edge portion 6 both lie substantially parallel to the axis of the container.

The container body is clamped by jaws? which are relatively movable toward and away from the plug 2 and they hold the parts'in place for the curlin operation. The clamping of the jaws is e ected by an anvil ring 8 secured to a head 9 which is movable up and down with respect to the plug 2. In Figure2 the head is shown in its lowest position, but it will be understood that at the beginning of the operationthe head 9 is raised and the anvil ring 8 is out of engagement with the jaws 7. When the head 1s lowered, the anvil ring is the first part thereof to come into operation, and therefore the container body is clamped by the jaws 7 with the parts 5 and 6 still upstanding. Hardened working portions .10 are provided for minimizing wear between the anvil ring and the joint.

- Slidably mounted in the head 9 is a rod .sumed that the head 9 has been 11 having a stop 12 for limiting its movement. When the head is in its topmost position the stop 12 occupies the dotted line position of Figure 2. Mounted on. the lower end of the rod 11 is a plate 13 on which is supported a segmental guide. The guide comprises a plurality of segments. 14 adapted to rest upon the plate 13 and held in as- --point Where the plate. 13 lies on the cap 4 of the container and with the segments 14 in the 7 position shown in lfiigure 2, but with the head still materially above such position. The flange 5 and 'the edge portion 6 ofthe container body will at this time lie in-the dotted line position D, ready for curling to form a joint.

It will be noted that with the parts in such position there is an annular space between the segmental guide and the j aws '7, and that Y the parts to be curled lie within this annulus. There is provided'upon the head 9 a curling ring 18 which fills this annulus and is vided with a recessed working face 19 adapted to engage the upstanding container portions and roll them over to form a joint. As

the head moves downwardly, this action,,

takes place and a curled joint is formed as best shown in Figure 2.

It will be observed that the lips 17 on the guide se ments 14 fit in under the rolled joint an serve as a positive guide for the joint portions after they leave the direct contact of the curling ring. It is found by actual experience that these guide portions are effective for forming a tight joint at high speeds, so that a material increase in productlon and uality is secured by their use.

With t e joint completely formed asin Figure 2, it is next necessary to remove the container from the head, and to effect suclr removal the head is next moved upwardly. The curling ring 18 first moves away from the jointproper, but by reason of the fact that the rod .11 slides in the head there is no movement of the segmental guide or the plate 13. However, continued upward movement of the head 9 causes a but-ton 20, which is'fixed to the head, to engage inwardly pro jecting fingers 21 on the segments 14, tendiiig to rotate each of the segments individua y around the ring 15. A plate 22 lies. on. top of the several segments and is pressed 4 against them by springs 23. With the parts in the positionshown in Figure 2, the plate 22 engages the segments only near their outer edges, and as the button 20 moves upwardly the segments are rotated around the ring 15 until their upper faces 24 lie against theplate' 22. This movement is effective for withdrawing the lips 17 to such an extent that the segment, as a whole, may be removed from the container without disturbing the joint. The button 20 then lifts the entire segmental guide upwardly, further'rotation of the parts around the ring being.

prevented by the sides of adjacent segments coming into contact with one another. Very shortly after this the stop 12 again reaches its dotted line position and the plate 13 is lifted upwardly. The anvil ring 8 then releases the jaws 7 and the container may be removed from the marhine.

On the next operation a container body faces 25 of the segments 14, causing rotation of the segments around the ring 15 and expanding the guide to the position shown in Figure 2, after which the oint is'formed. as heretofore described. The plate 13 effectually prevents marking of the paper cap by the guide segments. v v

It is frequently desirable to shape the rolled joint so that it has some cross-section other than that imp rtedto it by the rolling operation above described. and 4 there is shown a form of apparatus wherein this shaping operation may be carried out. In this form of the segments 14 are provided with outwardly projecting arms 26 which engage the top of the anvil jaws 7. In this-apparatus the lip 17 is dispensed with and a workingface 27 is provided. The jaws 7 are provided with overhung portions 28 which cooperate with the plug 2 to form an enclosingspace for the joint. The working faces 27' press against the rolled joint and shape it as de sired. This is best shown in Fig. 4. In this form of the apparatus, the plate 13 is dis-' pens'ed with as it is desired to press against the entire inner face of the joint. The button 20 bears against 'the inner inclined ices '25 of the segments 14 and moves all of the segments outwardly to squeeze the joint tightly. If desired, some outward movement of the segments 14 .in Figure 2 maybe secured by suitably inclining the faces 25, but

In Figures 3- invention the The segmental guide is preferably fori11e d,,

illustrated in Fi by turning a one-piece guide out of solid metal and then cutting thisinto segments with a saw of the proper width to provide the required relative movement of the guide segments. I

With the embodiment of the invention res 3 and 4, the pressure is principally ra ial and a tight, hard joint is formed.

be materially increased and the invention may be applied to either the formation of empty containers or to the closingjof filled containers.

' WhileI haveillustra'ted the present preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not limited tothe described apparatus, but it may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making fibrous containers including means for curling together the edge portions of adjacent container parts, a collapsible gpide adapted to lie between the roll of t e joint and container proper and direct the edges into the roll, and means for collapsing the giude.

2. Apparatus for making tainers having a body and aflan ed ca in the end thereof, including means or rol ing the edge portions of the cap and container body inwardly to unite the same, a collapsible uide for positively guiding the joint portions during a major portion of the rolling operation, and means for collapsing the fitted into the end t l e V; 3. Ap a-ratus for making fibrous containers rom a bod having a flanged cap ldereof, including means for supporting the container body and the cap, a curling ring for rolling together the edge portions of the body and thecap, and a segmental guide adapted to lie on the container ca and adjacent the container walls during t e rolling operation to positively guide the edge portlons during the rolling opera- Thespeed of the machine may fibrous con ving the guide.

tion, and means for rotating the segments to collapse the guide.

.4. A guide for, container iormin 'machines, comprising a plurality of gui e segments, each having an outwardly extending guide portion, a holder for maintaining the segments in their relative positions, and means for rotating each segment aboutthe holder to collapse the guide.

5. A guide for container. chines, comprising a plurailt uniting to form a guide of Sn stantia ly the contour of-a portion of the 'oint to be formed, and means for tilting t 'e segments to rotate the guide portions out of contact withthe joint.

. 6. A tool for container closing machines, comprising a plurality of segments adapted to appl substantially radial pressure to the joint 0 the container, a holder for the segments, and means for rotating each segment about the holder making maof se ments 7. Apparatus for making fibrous containers including supporting means for a and means actuated by the relative movement of ,the head and the support for mov- 8. Apparatus for making fibrous containers including a curling ring adapted to form a joint, and a segmental-guide for uiding the container portions forming the joint after they pass out of contact with a the curling ring. j 9. Apparatus for making fibrous containers including a curling ring adapted to form a joint,-a segmental guide for guiding the container portions pass out of contact with the curling ring, and means for collapsing the guide.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand;

JAMES E. ANNEN;

forming the joint after they 

